Chromis chromis

Size range: Max 15 (Europe and Mediterranean Marine Fish), max 25 (Fishbase)

Common size: 8-15 cm (Europe and Mediterranean Marine Fish) | 13 cm (Fishbase)

Depth Range: 2 - 40 m (Fishbase), 5-20 (Europe and Mediterranean Marine Fish)

Habitat:

• Hard - rocky, coral, artificial
• Vegetation - seaweed, sea grass
• Breed on rocky or sandy bottoms

Water column position:

• Demersal

Colors & patterns:

• Body- dark brown, perceived black in natural light, dark edged scales
• Tail with dark scissor-like marking
• central part of caudal fins translucent
• Juveniles- Bright blue lines, all over their bodies. in smaller individuals (less than 1cm)
• Juveniles - Lines on head are last to disappear when 3 cm long

Behavior:

• Reef-associated - related to sites it inhabits

2. Activity:(TBC)

3. Approach:

• (TBC)

4. Beeding:

• Eggs laid on rocks
• males guard the eggs (Fishbase)

5. Feeding characteristic - small planktonic or benthic animals .

Schooling characteristics:

• Small groups - Adults form small shoals in midwater above or near rocky reefs or above seagrass meadows (Fishbase)
• Young - in small groups at the entrance to caves (Summer / Autumn) (Fishes of Europe and the Mediterranean)

Native/Exotic:

EM notes: description of special east Mediterranean characteristics.